USA, Pennsylvania: Marriage Equality Decision Could Come Quickly

Plaintiffs in a challenge to Pennsylvania’s 1996 law banning same-sex marriage made a big change in strategy Monday, asking a federal judge to bypass a trial in favor of a quick ruling in the case. The civil rights lawyers representing a widow, 11 couples and one of the couples’ two teenage daughters filed papers in federal court in Harrisburg asking for a decision on the law’s constitutionality. The lawyers said they no longer see the need for a trial, which had been scheduled to begin June 9, because they say lawyers for Gov. Tom Corbett have not disputed their claims.

Filings are due by May 12th, so if the judge agrees, he could rule at any time after that date. Would the state appeal?